Stratospheric Aerosol Measurements II: The Worldwide Distribution

Abstract

Global surveys of stratospheric and upper tropospheric aerosols have been made using balloon-borne photoelectric particle counters. The natural variability observed at each flight station was small enough so that typical profiles could be identified. Data are presented in the form of latitude cross sections showing lines of constant aerosol mixing ratio. The stratospheric aerosol layer is clearly delineated as well as small transient layers in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. At high and low latitudes the aerosol mixing ratio profile apparently experiences a simple shift in altitude corresponding to the change in local tropopause height.